Access to Practical Nursing Pathway

Admission Requirements

1. Grade 12 graduation, or equivalent
2. Minimum C+ in English Studies 12 or Provincial English 12 or English First Peoples 12 or ENG 096  or ENG 098  or in both ESL-092 and ESL-095 or successful assessment testing
3. Minimum C in Foundations of Math 11 or Pre-calculus 11 or MAT 053  or MAT 055  or successful assessment testing
4. Minimum C in Anatomy and Physiology 12 or Biology 12 or BIO 060  
5. Minimum C+ in BIO 159  completed within 10 years, or equivalent.  Students will be required to register and successfully complete BIO 159  by specified dates.
6. Declaration of English Language Competency Requirements for Practical Nursing form signed and dated.
7. Requisite Skills and Abilities Program Bulletin signed and dated.  These documents provide prospective students with information that may be helpful in deciding if the program is suited to them.  Prospective students who have questions or concerns should contact an educational advisor.
8. A BC certificate in one of the following programs: Health Care Assistant (HCA), Resident Care Attendant (RCA) or Home Support/Resident Care Attendant (HS/RCA)  or a current BC Care Aide Registry Number
9. 600 Hours of Work Experience as an HCA or RCA or an HS/RCA within the last two years

• This includes work experience in any care setting (ex. Residential care, acute care, home care, hospice care)
• This does not include providing care to only one client.
• Work experience must be verified by official employer letter.

Note* Applicants with 600 hours of experience in Home Care setting may be admitted with an agreement to complete an additional day of education focusing on specific skills. 

Before Classes Begin

1. Submit a Criminal Record Check permission form so that the college can get your criminal record check done. This form will be sent to you when you are offered a seat in the program.
2. Hold a current CPR certification (BLS CPR - FAC 019) or equivalent and have completed a Workplace Hazardous Material Information System (WHMIS) course. Students are required to electronically submit a photocopy of these certificates to the faculty after the first day of classes. It is the responsibility of the students to maintain their CPR certification (BLS CPR - FAC 019) throughout the program.
3. The Provincial Violence Prevention Curriculum (PVPC) is mandatory for all staff and students who work in Health Authorities. Most of this training will be completed online through the Learning Hub. However, any students working in high-risk areas* are required to complete an additional 8-hour classroom module at their own cost, and prior to their placements in high-risk areas*. High-risk areas* are: Correctional Health Services, Emergency Departments, Home and Community Care, Long Term Care, Mental Health and Substance Use, In-Patient Psychiatry, Neurology, Brain Injury, Paramedics, Protection Services.
4. Submit a completed immunization form. This form will be sent to students when they are offered a seat in the program.  This immunization form should be validated by the public health nurse at your local health unit. Students are required to electronically submit a photocopy of the form to the faculty after the first day of classes. 
5. Attend a group information session. This mandatory session is designed to assist students in making an informed decision about pursuing a career as a licensed practical nurse. An invitation will be sent with details regarding the date and time of the information session.
6. Students are required to have a Respiratory Fit Test done prior to their clinical rotation.

Course Requirements

• PNS - 101 Professional Practice Access
• PNS - 102 Health Promotion Access
• PNS - 103 Variations in Health Access
• PNS - 104 Professional Communications Access
• PNS - 105 Pharmacology Access
• PNS - 106 Integrated Nursing Practice Access
• PNS - 107 Consolidate Practice Experience Access

Completion Requirements

• Students must achieve a minimum of C in each course (except PNS 105 ), maintain a cumulative grade point average of C+, and pass each consolidated practice experience.  In PNS 105  students must achieve 100% on the math portion and an A (80%) on the theory portion.
• Students are required to adhere to the BCCNM Standards of Practice for LPNs. Failure to adhere to these standards may result in the student being required to leave the program.
• A student who fails a required course is withdrawn from the program and may apply for readmission to the program to the subsequent term.  A student may also be required to retake and be successful in the Integrated Nursing Practice course (PNS 106 ). See bullet below.   All students must take Integrated Nursing Practice (PNS 106 ) prior to Consolidated Practice Experience (CPE) course (PNS 107 ) if they are re-entering the program.
• If a student is away from the program greater than 4 months from date of withdrawal, the student is required to repeat the failed course(s) and Integrated Nursing Practice, even if they have successfully completed this course the first time.
• If a student is unsuccessful in the program a second time, they will be required to reapply, be placed on a waitlist and receive confirmation of acceptance if space is available
• A minimum of 50% of the pathway must be completed at North Island College.
• NOTE: Upon successful completion of the Access to Practical Nursing pathway students can enter at Level 3 of the Practical Nursing Diploma program.
• Students have a maximum of 5 years to complete the Practical Nursing Diploma .